Egyptian History: Kingdoms and Dynasties Art History Chapter 3
Foundations of the Pharaohs: Egyptology = the study of Egyptian history A fluid science constantly changing because of new discoveries alter our understanding of the history of Ancient Egypt along with its chronology! Egyptian history divided into 9 categories or kingdoms and 31 dynasties numbered from Dynasty 0 to Dynasty 30.
Current knowledge of Ancient Egypt based on the writings of the Greco- Egyptian historian Manetho lived during the reign of Ptolemy I. divided Egyptian history into dynasties. We do not have any of Manetho s original texts! How do we know so much? Manetho is quoted by several prominent historians of the day: Josephus (1 st Century AD) Sextus Julius Africanus (220 AD) Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea (4 th Century AD) George the Monk (secretary to Byzantine Patriarch Tarasius (784-806 AD)
Other Sources of Knowledge The Palermo Stone 5 th Dynasty black basalt stone tablet that is inscribed on both sides and records the last pre-dynastic kings. The Royal List of Abydos Found in the Hall of the Records at the Temple of Abydos. Seti I and his son Ramesses II are worshipping the names of 76 ancestors (Hatshepsut and Akhenaten are omitted). The Abydos King List Duplicate list of the Royal List of Abydos found in the temple of Ramesses II. The Royal List of Karnak kings from the 2 nd Intermediate period. The Royal List of Saqqara Contained 58 Cartouches Represented the kings from the 1 st dynasty to Ramesses II. The Royal Canon of Turin Originally listed over 300 kings of Egypt because of damage over time we are now piecing together one of the most important puzzles!
Pre-Dynastic Period: Dynasty 0: The latest identified dynastic period (Most history texts do not count this Dynasty because it is so new!) Made up of 14 predecessor kings that were identified in excavations at Abydos. Historians question if these kings or protokings were combined to create Osiris the king of the dead. These kings were buried at Abydos. This find contrasts the historical belief that Menes (Narmer) was the first pharaoh because he unified the Upper and Lower regions. Some Egyptologists will place Narmer as the last king in dynasty 0 or the 1 st king in Dynasty 1.
Archaeologists are now leaning to the unification process taking more than 100 years. Pottery remains indicate that trade between upper and lower Egypt began long before unification. Texts found at Abydos also identify the use of written language almost 60 years before the 1 st Dynasty. Mythology or Cosmology was also practiced before the 1 st Dynasty. Ancient Egyptian texts also describe the creations and always have a Pharaoh present even before there was one king!
Archaic Period: Dynasties I & II Manetho identifies Egyptian history as beginning with the Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Old Kingdom :Dynasties III-VI The age of the pyramid builders. Most of the royal pyramid complexes and private mastaba tombs of the Memphite necropolis were built. Consolidation of the government took place Efficient administration systems developed Pharaohs were thought to be divine (incarnation of Horus and son of Re. Technological advancements: Building Hieroglyphic writings Advanced pyramid construction
Intermediate Period 1: Dynasties VII-XI 140 years of chaos after the death of Pepi II. Constant change of leadership.
Middle Kingdom: Dynasty XII Solid government Increased prosperity and unification Growth of political boundaries.
Intermediate Period 2: Dynasties XIII-XVII In come the Hyksos, a Semitic group that invaded in around 1720 BC. Ruled Egypt s northern Delta area. Ahmose I Removed the Hyksos and established the New Kingdom.
New Kingdom: Dynasties XVIII-XX The most well-known pharaohs of all Ancient Egyptian rulers: Hatshepsut (the female pharaoh) Seti I Rameses II (the Great) Tutankhamun the boy-king Ay (married Tut s widow possibility he killed Tut!) Akhenaten the heretic Rameses III (ruled 31 years) last great Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses XI (28 year rule) Priests owned all temples, 90% of all ships, 80% of all factories (Priests ruled economically!)
Late Period: Dynasties XXI-XXVI Broken into 4 clear phases: The Saite Dynasty Psamtek I established a new reign and removed the Assyrians by 656 BC. The First Persian Dynasty Cambyses Darius I Xerxes Artexerxes A Period of Independence Dominated by two major issues: instability within Egypt and aggressive Persian power abroad. The Second Persian Occupation Artexerxes II plundered the temples and destroyed the defenses of major cities. Alexander the Great defeated the Persians
Ptolemaic Period: Greek Dynasty Also includes the Macedonian Period Alexander the Great Philip Arrhidaeus Alexander IV Ptolemy I Soter I founded the Ptolemaic line. Took the throne after the death of Alexander IV. Known as Ptolemy of Lagos Ptolemaic rule will come to an end with Cleopatra VII who was married to Ptolemy XII (her brother) Affair with Emperor Augustus of Rome and Mark Antony.